On the evening of June 24th, the new Baojun E300/E300 Plus was officially launched with a price range of 64,800 to 84,800 yuan, with a total of 6 different configurations for the two models.
6 models with the same range
The two models launched this time are E300 and E300 Plus.
E300 is a three-seater model (with optional two-seater), with a length, width and height of 2625/1647/1588 mm and a wheelbase of 1750 mm.
E300 Plus is a four-seater model with a length, width and height of 2894/1655/1595 mm and a wheelbase of 2020 mm.
Therefore, in terms of seat layout and size, the two can be distinguished, and E300 Plus can be simply understood as a larger version of E300. I will continue to explain the differences below.
The two models are the same in that they are equipped with a 40 kW permanent magnet synchronous motor, with a maximum output power of 40 kW and a peak torque of 150 N·m, and the range is also the same.In terms of battery, the E300 is equipped with a 30 kWh ternary lithium battery pack, while the E300 Plus is equipped with a 31.9 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack, but both have a NEDC range of 305 km.
In terms of range, NEDC 305 km is not outstanding, but if we consider the scenario in which these cars are mainly used for commuting, it is completely sufficient.
In terms of chassis, both models use front MacPherson independent suspension + rear double wishbone independent suspension configuration, which is not common for cars of the same level at this price range.
In addition, the new cars also adopt a rear-wheel drive configuration. In terms of tire size, the E300 is equipped with 145/70 R12 tires, while the E300 Plus has slightly larger tires with a size of 155/70 R13.
Both models have 3 different configurations. The differences between the 3 different configurations of the E300 mainly focus on intelligent driving and comfort configurations. The E300 only comes with the intelligent driving package in the top configuration, while the other two do not offer it.
In other words, if you want to choose the E300 with features such as a 360-degree surround view system, adaptive cruise control (ACC), assisted parking system, automatic emergency braking (AEB), etc., you must choose the top-level Star Future Edition.
The E300 Plus is the same, and the top configuration is required to include the intelligent driving assistance package.
Overall, if you are interested in intelligent driving, it is more cost-effective to choose the top configuration. Firstly, ACC can relieve most of the driver’s fatigue when driving on urban roads, and secondly, it can provide a certain level of active safety assurance.
In terms of price, the price range of New Baojun E300/E300 Plus is from 64,800 to 84,800 yuan. Competitors in the same level mainly include Ora R1 (69,800 to 79,800 yuan), Chery eQ1 (59,800 to 78,800 yuan), and other models such as the Zero Run T03 made by new car-making forces.
Obviously, E300/E300 Plus competes primarily with high-sales models such as Ora R1 and Chery eQ1.
Differentiation in visible areas such as appearance and interior is understandable if one wants to stand out in the limited price range.
Good-looking or too forceful?
For mainstream models in the 60,000-80,000 yuan range, whether the appearance is attractive or not largely determines consumers’ purchase decisions, as is evident in models like Ora R1.
Therefore, New Baojun E300/E300 Plus also puts enough effort into appearance design with a very high degree of originality.
But high degree of originality does not necessarily mean good-looking. The official stated that the target audience of New Baojun E300/E300 Plus is “young people born in the era of interconnectivity.” Therefore, I conducted a small survey and asked a group of 1995s (20-30 years old) to give their opinions on the appearance of New Baojun E300/E300 Plus.
The answers are varied, but generally fall into two categories: one is that the car has a distinct personality, is highly personalized and feels very technological, which impresses people at first sight; the other is completely opposite, with high-frequency keywords such as “conspicuous headlights”, “elderly mobility scooters”, “strange” and so on.
Of course, such small surveys do not represent much, but some young users still appreciate the appearance of the New Baojun E300.
In my opinion, users who can appreciate the appearance of the E300 should be those who prefer technology. So I found another group of technology enthusiasts, and the answers were much better than those from the young group. Most of them appreciate the design of E300.
It is worth mentioning that New Baojun has also launched a personalized customized version of the appearance, allowing users to select different appearance customization based on their preferences, and three different customized models were also displayed at the press conference.
As for the car body color, the new Baojun E300 provides five colors for users to choose from: Starry Red, Starry White, Interstellar Blue, Sky Pink, and Starship Gray.
In terms of interior design, the E300 is equipped with environmentally friendly interior materials, and the design is quite thoughtful. The overall style tends to be minimalist, and I particularly like the design of the steering wheel and door panels, with compact details without losing a sense of fashion. Interestingly, the double hook design provided in the glove box is quite characteristic of Liuzhou.
In terms of comfort configuration, the new car provides external electric rearview mirror adjustment, external rearview mirror heating, one-touch power window (with anti-pinch function), remote-controlled double-door glass that can be raised (with anti-pinch function) and lowered, remote control key + central locking, dynamic Bluetooth key, intelligent entry system, and PM2.5 filter device.In addition, the new car’s intelligent device provides AI voice interaction, online music and radio, voice-controlled WeChat while driving, remote control of the vehicle via mobile app, car searching and status inquiry via mobile app, and remote ignition.
In terms of financing, the new Baojun offers a 24-month interest-free purchase service, and a 3500 yuan subsidy for replacement. The power battery assembly enjoys an 8-year or 120,000 km quality guarantee, and comes with three years of free road rescue services and charging sockets.
Is the New Baojun E-Series the New Weapon to Boost Sales?
The sales of the new Baojun E-Series have always been good, and with the arrival of the E300, many people believe that Baojun will create another sales miracle.
Regarding whether the new Baojun E300 can create a new sales miracle, in fact, we can examine it from several dimensions.
Inititally, there is the brand power. Needless to say, the brand power of the new Baojun in the low-end new energy vehicle market is well known. Judging from the sales of Baojun E100 and E200, there are still many users with high quality requirements for vehicles, especially in the safety of vehicles, such as whether the power battery is safe.
Therefore, in my opinion, the new Baojun is still a brand of choice for some users in the low-end new energy vehicle market, and with high priority. The key is whether they understand the E300 and whether they like the appearance of the E300.
In terms of the product end, E300 has certain differentiated advantages in intelligent driving, aside from external appearance and interior design. If users have a certain understanding of intelligent driving, then E300 may also be given priority consideration.As there is no clear advantage in terms of battery life, the exterior design, interior decoration, and intelligent driving system become the main differentiation advantages of the New Baojun E300.
However, I believe that the vast majority of users’ consideration of the New Baojun E300 is primarily based on their trust in the Baojun brand.
From my observation of the Baojun brand, I believe that the New Baojun E300 has a great chance of creating a new sales legend.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.